Folding bed



(No Model.)

J. G. SEXTRO.

FOLDING BED.

No. 457,796. Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

U ITED STATES PATENT Ornrcn.

JOSEPH G. SEXTRO, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,796, dated August 18, 1891. Application filed March 16,1891- Serial No. 385,176- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. SEXTRO, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of beds which are adapted to be folded so as to occupy as little space as possible when not in use as a bed and when folded give the appearance of a wardrobe, book-case, or other article of office or library furniture.- Its object is to provide a simple, cheap, and easily-operated device which is not liable to be injured or put out of order by inexperienced or incantious persons.

The invention consists in the peculiar combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be first fully described in connection with he accompanying drawings, and will then be particularly referred to, and pointed out in the claims. 0

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference-letters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device when unfolded to form a bed. Fig. 2 is a detail view in central vertical section of the same upon an enlarged scale, the parts being in the same position as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the folded bed upon the same scale as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, in rear elevation, of the base as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the base-weights.

The bed-frame proper consists of two side rails A, the end rails A A and the bottom A The part A which is the front of the article when folded up, as in Fig. 3, may be finished to represent a book-case, wardrobe, or cabinet, or it may be provided with a mirror to serve as a dressing-case.

The head-board B and foot-board C have brackets b a secured to them at their opposite edges. The outside faces of these brackets are in the same plane as the edges of the head and foot boards, and extend inside the rails A, to which they are pivoted at b 0, so that the head and foot boards may be folded within the bed-frame, as shown in Fig. 3 and 'of pillows, bedclothing, &c.

in dotted line, Fig. 1, in which position they are held by bolts or catches 0 The bed-frame is hinged at its lower front edge to the weighted base D by strap-hinges d, of which there may be two or more. On the front A is formed a compartment E, which has a hinged cover e for the reception The front of this compartment may be finished in imitation of drawers or doors, as the taste or fancy of the designer may dictate. This box or compartment sets in from the outer edges of the head end ofthe bed in its unfolded position,

are secured to the rails of the compartment E and to the front A The front edges of the brackets F are formed to act as rockers when the bed is changed from one position to another.

When the bed is turned down, the foot end is supported upon the legs G, which are fitted to slide freely in the corners of the front A when the foot-board is folded, as in Fig. 3; but when the bed is turned down the legs drop down by their own weight, and when the footboard is unfolded, as in Fig. 1, the brackets c bear upon the legs G and hold them in the protruded position. The head and foot boards are held in the unfolded position by buttons b 0 which are pivoted inside the end rails A A to turn up the inside faces of the head and foot boards.

To firmly support the bed in its folded position (shown in Fig. 3) and prevent its being tipped forward accidentally, I have provided an apron H, which is hinged to the bottom e of the compartment E. To the inside of this apron isattached one end of the cord h, which passes around the inner edge of the bottom e, thence up and through a perforation in the side A, the outer end of the cord being provided with a ring or pull it, by drawing upon which the lower edge of the apron is pulled in against the base D when it is desired to lower the bed. I prefer to make the lower edge of the apron extend in the same plane as the lower peripheries of the casters when the bed is folded, so that it is necessary IOC to slightly tip the bed back against the wall top rail (1 Under the base-rails are secured the customary casters d I are iron weights, Fig. 5, a sufficient number of which are to be placed in the base D to counterpoise the weight of the bed-frame when both base and bed-frame rest upon the supporting-brackets F.

To determine the number of weights to be used, the bed is turned down to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the weights are added upon each side of the center until it is found that it will require but little force to turn the bed to the folded position.

To prevent the bed closing with a jar, I provide a pair of air-cushions J, such as are commonly used upon doors. These are connected to the base and head-rail, respectively, of the bed-frame. As shown, the cylinder-head is connected to the head-rail of the bed-frame and the piston-rod to the base D but their position may be reversed, if desired.

I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction shown and described, as these may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is v 1. The combination of the folding bedframe, the supporting rocker brackets F, rigidly secured thereto, the weighted base, and hinges connecting said base and folding bed-frame, and the sliding legs for supporting the foot end of the bed in the unfolded position.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth,-of the bed-frame, the head and foot boards pivoted thereto, the Weighted base hinged to the said frame, the compart nient E, the apron H, hinged thereto, the cord 72. for folding in said apron, and the supporting-brackets F.

3. The combination of the bed-frame, the folding head and foot boards F, the sliding legs G, the brackets o for pivoting the footboard, said brackets being adapted to bear upon the protruded legs when the foot-board is unfolded and to allow the legs to slide into the frame when the foot-board is folded, and means, such as shown, to support the footboard in its elevated position, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the Weighted base, the folded bed-frame hinged thereto, the curved forwardly-projecting brackets F to support the head end of said frame when turned down, and the air-cushions J, connected to the base and bed-frame to prevent jar when the bed is turned up, substantially as shown and described.

. JOSEPH G. SEXTRO.

lVitnesses: Y

M. B. PROCTOR, J. E. TOVVNSING. 

